Bones found in tomb are reburied -Bridgett family?

[derby girl]

Dear All
That's the heading to an item in the BBC news Derbyshire section online.  Apparently they are widening the ring road  close to Agard Street, and under a block of concrete - added in the 1920s to deter grave robbers - they have found a tomb (originally in the graveyard of a Baptist Chapel).  Anyway they believe the remains are those of the Bridgett family who were silk mill owners in the 1800s and intend to reinterr them in the Nottingham Road Cemetery - they can't find living relatives.  Thought I'd post it in case it rings a bell with anyone.
Regards
Derby Girl

[derby girl]

Dear All
It now turns out that the graves - there are several of them - belong to the Swinburne family - the family of Thomas Swinsburne, a banker - who also have links with Gloucester, where they also owned a house. 

[Manitoban]

Has the identity / source of the bones been confirmed? I am looking for information on Thomas Bridgett (4x great grandfather - he does have living relatives though in Canada) and whoever came before him - bones story is fascinating.

[LFS]

Dear Manitoban
No, sorry, I didn't hear any more about it.  Unfortunately am living away at the moment and not able to keep up to date with the latest Derby news.
If I hear any more I'll post it.
Regards
Derby Girl

[LFS]

Dear Manitoban
Apparently someone called Peter Billson has written a book about Thomas Bridgett - Thomas Bridgett & Company, Silk Manufacturers 1803-1870.  Apparently he came from humble beginnings, but eventually owned two large silk mills in the Brook Street/Bridge Street area of Derby.  He married five times!  Unfortunately his wives all died young - the fourth was Eleanor, the fifth Sarah.  He also had a daughter Sarah.  There were also some children who died in infancy.  He became a Baptist shortly after the chapel was built where the bones were found, and became a deacon there.  Hope that's of some help.
Regards
Derby Girl

[Manitoban]

Derby Girl, it is a great help - have seen your posts as well as some on bygonederbyshire.com. I knew about Mr. Billson's book and have been trying without luck for a couple of days to find out how to purchase it. Will have to contact him or the Derbyshire Archeological Society directly. For many years I knew only Thomas Bridgett's name and that he had five wives - nothing more. The available information seemed to stop at his son and business partner Joseph.  This is a real breakthrough. Very exciting, and my thanks to you,

Manitoban

[LFS]

Any time Manitoban. Good luck with finding the book.
Regards
Derby Girl

[LFS]

Dear Manitoban
Don't know how much you know about Thomas Bridgett.  Have now found one of my favourite books - "The Old Derby Silk Mill and its Rivals" by Harry Butterton.  He says Thomas started out as a "framework knitter, becoming a self-made hosier and successful silk throwster".  He had a large house built called Grove House (with ten bedrooms and two dressing rooms to give you some idea of the size) which was sold in 1834:  In Pigot's Directory of 1835 his address was given as 68 Bridge Street, Derby.  He is offering to the Poor Law Commissioners in 1835 to give work to pauper girls aged 10 -14 - offering 1s 6d to 3s 6d per week up to 12, and up to 5s for 14 year olds with up to 8s for pauper women - riches!  Incidentally he was a Particular Baptist.
Regards
Derby Girl.

[Bridgart]

The following is the information for the dates of birth, marriage and deaths of Thomas Bridgett and his family:-

Thomas BRIDGETT b. 1766, Derby, bapm 18 Sep 1770, All Saints, Derby FWK in 1791, occ: Thomas was Silk Knitter
& (1st ) Elizabeth BARBER b. 1767, St Werburgh, Derby, (Father:   BARBER), m. 12 Aug 1793, St Werburgh, Derby, bd. 30 Apr 1795, All Saints, Derby, aged 28 yrs
m. 12 mar 1793, All Saints, Derby
Children:
Nil
& (2nd ) Sarah SIMPSON  b.  1770, Derby, bd. 29 Dec 1796, All Saints, Derby (Father: William SIMPSON)
m. 31 Aug 1795, St Michaels, Derby
Children:
Nil
& (3rd ) Mary WILLIAMSON b. 1772, St Alkmunds, Derby, (Father: John WILLIAMSON, aged 34 yrs, occ: aged 34 yrs, Thomas was Silk Thowster, Partner of Thomas Bridgett c.1803- c. 1818)
m. 26 Feb 1798, St Alkmunds, bd.  July 1798, All Saints, Derby
Children:
Nil
& (4th ) Ellen DANIEL (Father:    DANIEL) b. 1769, Derby, d. 1 May 1803, interred in Azard Street Baptist Chapel, Derby
m. 1797, St Alkmunds, Derby
Children:
1. Selina Bridgett b. 1799, St Alkmunds, Derby
2. Mary Bridgett b. 1800, St Alkmunds, Derby
3. Joseph Bridgett b. 1803, St Alkmunds, Derby, d. 1846, Derby, aged 43 yrs
4. Anne Bridgett b. 1804, St Alkmunds, Derby
5. Ellen Bridgett b. 1805, St Alkmunds, Derby
6. Lydia Bridgett, b. 1806, St Alkmunds, Derby
& (5th ) Sarah GREGORY (Father: William GREGORY)
Children:
Thomas BRIDGETT b. 2 Sep 1810, St Alkmund, Derby
Sarah BRIDGETT b. 16 Dec 1811, St Alkmund, Derby, d. 1 Aug 1830. interred Azard Street Baptist Chapel, Derby, Derby
Ebenezer BRIDGETT b. 13 Feb 1815, St Alkmund, Derby, d.
Alfred BRIDGETT b. after 24 Apr 1816, St Alkmund, Derby
Unknown – died in infancy, body found in tomb in Azard Street of old cemetery
Unknown – died in infancy, body found in tomb in Azard Street in old cemetery
Unknown – died in infancy, body found in tomb in Azard Street in old cemetery

Thomas's eldest son Joseph took over managing the factory and the last of his father's partners died (who looked after the accountancy and did the books.  When that partner died the business ceased to exist.
bridgart